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TIL "Stylitism" was a form of Christian worship in Byzantium in which a holy man would live atop a column, preaching, fasting and praying. The aim was to suffer, as the stylites believed this would ensure the salvation of their souls. St Alypius spent 53 years standing on his column.

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rRd6W TIL that Charles Darwin wrote a list of pros and cons of marriage. Pros included "constant companion and a friend in old age... better than a dog anyhow". Cons included "less money for books". When he visited his future wife he forgot to propose because he was too busy telling her about evolution
mZvP TIL that organized “wife swapping” was started in the 1940s on U.S. Air Force bases by fighter pilots and their wives. Researchers found it was “a kind of tribal bonding ritual, with a tacit understanding that the two thirds of husbands who survived would look after the widows.”
J1wOv TIL former Boston Red Sox pitcher Hideki Okajima's unique pitching motion was inspired by a character in Yoishi Takashi's Manga "Ace!" Okajima believed the motion would make him throw harder.
8abP4 TIL middle-aged marathon runners are faster than twentysomethings. It's not clear why this is, although the older runners do train slightly more.
QJd1X TIL 11% of US working age adults are on antidepressants.